Joanna Shupe is always a must read for me. Her latest in The Fifth Avenue Rebels series, The Lady Gets Lucky, was thoroughly entertaining.

At a house party Alice Lusk asks Christopher “Kit” Ward to give her lessons to go from shy and awkward to sociable and confident. She wants answers and insights into what can attract a man. She is seeking to take control of her life and as a woman of a certain status in 1895 that way is to find someone to marry her, not for her sizable dowry, but for herself. She wants to escape her overbearing mother who thinks her dowry is her best and only quality. It has been said that Kit can turn the shyest woman into a vixen. In desperation, Alice shoots her shot at the house party.

Kit hides his true feelings under the armor of charm so no one gets to know the real man who is just as insecure and doubtful as Alice. As he’s teaching her, he realizes that the simplest thing like hand holding can be extremely intimate. Even as he is falling for her, he rejects his feelings and thoughts of marriage out of fear.

To see Alice come into her own and stand up for what she wants and desires was empowering. Kit’s development through grief and becoming more of his honest self was also well done.

Joanna Shupe brings a wealth of Gilded Age detail to her stories that have so much heat and heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THIS lady got lucky enough to read this delightful book star as her FIRST historical romance. And what a book to begin with. Joanna Shupe shall definitely be added to my list of fun, flirty, and dirty little reads. To be honest I was a bit hesitant to start as I didn’t think I’d be a big fan of the Gilded Age era historical read—contemporary romance is more my speed, but there are so many things Shupe can use to her reader’s advantage writing specifically for this time. For starters the conventional roles of women are used in the best of ways and then turned upside down. I loved how Alice became more and more self-aware and assertive as she learned things about herself and her self-worth. And Kit, ahhhh to have more “teachers” like these. Yes, the lady DID get lucky. Clearly I have not been fortunate enough to read anything by Joanna Shupe before, but I imagine she will continue to deliver hot and, umm educational? reads in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very good book. Interesting characters and great romance. Would love to read more by this author. Only complaint was main male character didn’t really seem to have a good reason to not want to marry. Would have enjoyed more time focused on him and back story. Overall very enjoyable book.

I don't know what about this novel hit me differently than most historical romance. The characters felt very 2D. We're told Alice is shy, but she's propositioning the main character and taking carriage rides with single men. We're told Kit can't keep his hands off the ladies, but after kissing Alice a few times at a party he's obsessed (but won't admit it, of course.)

None of this is new for historical romances, but it's just not particularly engaging for me. I got a little over halfway through and my desire to know what happens to the characters was finally overwhelmed by my boredom.

A solid 4 stars for The Lady Gets Lucky! The premise for this book is super-simple and super-fun: Alice is a shy wallflower heiress who wants to learn how to talk with men. She approaches Kit, playboy extraordinaire, when she hears that he knows how to set any woman at her ease. Of course his lessons in flirtation soon turn into lessons in kissing (and more!) as they get to know each other better.

The best parts of the book came from Alice's appreciation of Kit's hidden personality, and Kit's deepening regard for Alice's core of strength. The book also presents an authentic conflict - nothing new for historical romance, Kit doesn't want to get married and it's Alice's ultimate goal to escape her controlling mother. What makes it especially believable is that neither of them hide their ultimate goals from each other. We always love reading a romance with MCs "on the same team," and Alice and Kit are at heart trying to do their best for each other.

This books is a fun, lighthearted Gilded Age historical romance. Shy Alice asks rake Kit to help her learn how to seduce a man.

Usually “meek” characters like Alice annoy me, but I thought she was sweet and generous. I also found myself rooting for Kit, who was so charming.

The book was fast-paced and sexy. Interesting to note that the first half of the story takes place at the same time as the first book in the series, but is told from a different characters’ perspective.

The Lady Gets Lucky is seductive and sweet second story in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Fans of a wallflower and rake tropes will enjoy the strength and boldness in Alice Lusk, a not-so timid American heiress, as she receives lessons from Kit Ward, the rake with self-esteem issues. Together they surprise each other and overcome their own insecurities to find love. Read this if you love: food (this if for the historical foodies), late night lessons in being seductive, and dramatic speeches!

This story takes place alongside the events of The Heiress Hunt but could also be read as a stand-alone. I prefer this story of the first book in the series as I enjoyed the characters growth and development to be stronger.

This book absolutely shines and is Joanna Shupe at her best!

I know I'm reviewing this early, but this book is going to be one of the standouts this fall and this year. I'm so excited for everyone else to read it so I'm not alone shouting into the void how incredible this book is. I know that The Heiress Hunt has some mixed reviews, so if you're on the fence about wanting to continue reading this series, trust me on this one, and don't even hesitate to preorder this immediately! It will be so worth it! I devoured it in one sitting (I couldn't have put it down if I tried) and it's everything I've been looking for in a book.

This story is about so much more than lessons in seduction, though don't get me wrong, that aspect of it is delightful. I cannot think of another book that does this trope better, and I didn't want it to end! The dual POV (and the pacing) works perfectly and there's such a balance between Kit and Alice, and their story both together and apart. Kit is the kind of hero you can immediately get behind, and Alice is so strong. There is such a brightness, a happiness, to this book. It's a romance, yes, but it's incredibly romantic. You can feel the love as you're reading it!

There's so much growth, and along with the friendships, there are so many layers to the story. There's such a depth to the emotions too. I knew I loved this book, but when a particular scene happened (spoiler: the funeral scene, I seriously had to stop to compose myself. Everything involved in that plot was so unexpected and beautifully written. I feel like I could go on for an hour about how brave it was for her to include it and how delicately it was done. That scene has single-handedly raised my emotional standard for all romance novels) it elevated it above and beyond for me. And if your love language in any way, shape, or form, involves food you will love this!

I feel like my review can't do this story or these characters justice, but I loved this book so, so much!

I really liked Alice, underneath her shy exterior was this formidable woman who fought for her chance at happiness. She saw an opportunity and grabbed it. It ended up opening doors that wouldn't have been possible without that first courageous step. Kit was very harsh on himself and really needed someone to help build his confidence in everything other than his looks. Alice saw the real him and they balanced each other.

The Lady Gets Lucky is the 2nd book in the The Fifth Avenue Rebels series. The book simultaneously takes place with the first book, The Heiress Hunt. The story takes place at a large house party in Newport, RI where Alice Lusk and Christopher (Kit) Ward are in attendance.

One night, Alice approaches Kit with the idea of teaching her about seduction. She wants to know how to talk and flirt around men, and overcome her shyness. In exchange, she will provide recipes from a renowned chief to help Kit with his upcoming club opening.

This book was a slow burn but once it picked up steam it was really enjoyable! I can't wait for the 3rd book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kit and Alice are our protagonists. They meet at a house party held by mutual friends. Alice sneaks into Kit’s room and asks for his help in learning how to flirt and to help her catch a husband. Kit is opening a supper club and Alice bargains for lessons with ‘Chef Franconi’s’ recipes in exchange for lessons. Kit had tried to hire the chef but the chef had refused multiple times. Of course, the lessons don’t stay at the level of flirtation and they become lovers.

This may be Ms. Shupe’s best novel ever. The heat level was off the charts and watching the two characters fall in love was heart-clenchingly romantic.

In the end, Alice stands up to her overbearing mother and becomes the chef at Kit’s supper club which is a hit. But the novel doesn’t skip steps. They grow as people and also in their love. The pacing was excellent.

This novel had it all: heat, romance, great pacing, a wonderful internal life for both characters, growth by both characters, well drawn supporting characters, and competent and well-drawn characters. I adored every page.

Shupe takes the "virgin meets rogue" trope and spins it into this sweetly sexy story about self-esteem and fighting for what you love.

Having read the first in this series and felt it was an enjoyable mid-pack novel, I am very glad I read this second in the series. This take on the “seduction lessons” trope was well-written and greatly enhanced by the heroine having her own, not romance related, motives and interests. Weaving in some “secret identities,” “troublesome mamas” and “more than he appears” tropes, this romance manages to be steamy while also feeling authentic to the characters.

Where the book really shines however, is the setting. Again, I love seeing gilded-age Newport, RI and the era as a whole is a very glamorous background (at least when we stick with the life of the ton, historically, not a great time for anyone else!). Additionally, the story is woven beautifully into the events of the first book in the series by starting at the houseparty that kicked off the series. Seeing those events again from different perspectives is great world-building.

I officially can't wait to see more in this series!

This book was an absolutely wonderful read! I fell in love with Joanna Shupe's writing when I read The Rogue of Fifth Avenue and went on to read her entire backlist while eagerly awaiting her newer releases. I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I was definitely looking forward to Kit's story and then I saw THIS COVER! Let me just say that the inside of the book did not disappoint. The kissing lessons trope is not my favorite, but Shupe knocked it out of the park here. Kit's character was so unique to me, I feel as though I rarely read a historical romance hero like him & I just loved him. He seemed so real and his insecurities seemed so natural to me. Alice felt like a natural counterpart to me for Kit and I truly believed in their chemistry & eventual love, plus the jealousy & mutual pining was just so great! I cannot wait for more Joanna Shupe books, I'm dying for a Nellie Young book! I couldn't wait until October to devour this and now I am just eagerly anticipating the next arrival and I cannot wait for readers to get their hands on this book.

This was a quick read, but I still struggled to get into it at first. I think the dialogue seemed a little unnatural at times, and I didn't necessarily love either of the characters. They were both fine, but I wasn't in love with them, and I felt like the chemistry of Kit's friend group hooked me more than the actual romance. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the friend dynamics make me want to give other books in the series a shot, but for most of the book, I was wondering why the hero and heroine were even together. They just didn't always seem fully fleshed out as characters. All this said, the steam level was nice, and I did enjoy the ending. I wanted more from the mother-daughter confrontation, and I wish we'd seen more of her dad because he seems like an interesting character, but overall the ending came through for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

This doesn't come out for months but I couldn't wait to read this second book in Joanna Shupe's Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Cleverly the first half of this book overlaps The Heiress Hunt (first book in the series). In that book there is a large house party in Newport, RI. Both Alice Lusk and Christopher (Kit) Ward are in attendance. Alice is painfully shy with an overbearing mother. She approaches Kit with the idea of teaching her about men. She wants to know how to talk, flirt etc as her greatest desire is to marry for love.

The love lessons trope is familiar and of course there is going to be desire and attraction. But when it is done well, as this one is, you can see the growth in the people. Alice goes from timidness to being able to stand up for herself. She doesn't need Kit to save her. Kit has insecurities and never plans to marry but he never met a girl like Alice before. They are fun and sweet together and steamy and hot too. I also enjoyed Alices love of cooking. An unusual choice for her status.

I imagine Shupe having fun plotting the overlap in storylines. I definitely had fun returning to the first book and seeing where the characters fit into the scenes in both. I love that story being told from both POV's so we are aware of their thoughts and emotions. This can be read as a stand alone but is more enjoyable if read in order. This all takes place in the Gilded Age, 1895 NYC & Newport. It is the USA equivalent to the Victorian/Regency eras. If I had one wish it would be that it was a little more over the top with wealth as in the first book. I missed the mention of Tiffany jewelry and excesses of the day.

I would recommend to any who enjoys historical romances. The beautiful cover alone will grab catch the readers eye and imagination. A grateful thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Soooo I currently have 23 books from NetGalley, 20 of which publish before this book, but I could not resist. I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER. How was I supposed to hold off reading it until closer October? I remember when I first saw the cover on Twitter or Instagram and my jaw dropping because it is so deliciously hot. This is what I want on my romance novel covers!!

This book starts in the middle of the Newport, RI house party that takes place during the first Fifth Avenue Rebels book and follows Kit, a friend of Maddie and Harrison (main couple from book one), and Alice, one of the debutants at the party. I’m not saying that you have to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but I highly recommend doing so as it will make this one more enjoyable. I will say that reading this one first, will likely ruin the drama of the first book, so if you’re planning on reading them both I suggest reading them in order.

Alice enlists Kit’s help in teaching her how to be seductive so she can find her own spouse instead of being trapped with a fortune hunter after her large dowery. As with all educational kissing books the two end up falling for each other and it’s delightful. On top of this being an educational kissing romance, it is also a food romance. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a historical food romance and it was wonderful.

I loved both Alice and Kit. I really liked Kit in the first book and was looking forward to his story. He’s just so fun and still manages to feel like a fully developed real person. Also, I love when book characters are big dummies and don’t realize they’re in love until they’re a jealous wreck (this only applies to book characters). I vaguely remember Alice from the first book, but now want to go back and reread it for glimpses of her. It was very interesting being in her head and seeing her inner-self and outward persona become more aligned throughout the book as she became more self assured. I felt like both characters grew both as individuals and a couple which should happen in all books.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series, which I really hope is Nellie’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I picked it up in the middle of reading A Feast For Crows, so all I wanted was an easy read. This looked like it would be enjoyable, so I picked it up. I ended up binging it in less than 24 hours, it was an addictive read.

My favorite thing about this was definitely our main character, Alice. At the beginning of this, she was painfully naive and shy. I loved watching her accept herself and come out of her shell over the course of the book, and when she finally stood up to her mother, I couldn't have been happier. I loved how she didn't need Kit to be herself, she came into her own, and it was amazing.

I feel like the relationship between Kit and Alice also needs to be addressed, as this is a historical romance after all. I feel like the alternating perspectives really worked for this one, because it allowed us to understand each character and their feelings. I enjoyed both perspectives equally, and I loved how the romance helped each character develop. I had expected more steam based on the cover, but I didn't mind the lack of it.

Although this isn't what I normally read, I really enjoyed it! It was the perfect break from high fantasy, and just what I wanted when I picked it up.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Did. Not. Finish. Blech. Not enjoyable at all. I don't know if it was the writing style or if it was really that bad but I hated it.